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Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with anxiety.

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annabay what physical feelings of anxiety do you get?
  • replies: 785

hey there, what physical symptoms of anxiety do you experience? I often feel very alone in my experience of having physical chest (what I think are heart) spasms and was wanting to create a space for everyone to list their physical feelings that come... View more

hey there, what physical symptoms of anxiety do you experience? I often feel very alone in my experience of having physical chest (what I think are heart) spasms and was wanting to create a space for everyone to list their physical feelings that come hand in hand with anxiety so we can all feel less alone. hope everyone is well.

Chris_B Forums etiquette: give support to receive support
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newb... View more

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newbies are welcomed when they first post, and we understand that it’s a big step to post for the first time on a forum like this, especially if you aren’t feeling great. It’s important to remember, though, that these forums are a community of real people, just like you, not a one-on-one support environment like going to see your psychologist. To get the best out of being here, one of the best tips we can offer is give support to receive support. Being a good community member means: participating in different threads (not just your own), replying to people who have taken the time to reply to you (even if it’s just to say thank you), and... posting words of emotional support and encouragement when you see others who are hurting and reaching out. You don’t have to feel obliged to solve the problems of others: that’s not what we’re here for. But you can offer empathy and what you’ve learned from your own life experiences, even if it’s just a line or two, eg. “I don't know what to say, but I want to give you my support and tell you I care about what is happening to you and hope life will get better soon.” Try to develop an interest in the journeys of others here on the forums. You may be surprised at how good being an active, caring member here can make you feel. For those of you who have had good experiences giving support here on the forums, please post in this thread here and let us know how it has helped you on your journey.

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Anxie I can’t keep a job
  • replies: 3

I have social anxiety and I find it really hard to keep a job. I get panic attacks which make me freeze, I’m nervous and come out as weird to people. I have concentration problem’s and I’ve realised I forget about details so quick maybe because being... View more

I have social anxiety and I find it really hard to keep a job. I get panic attacks which make me freeze, I’m nervous and come out as weird to people. I have concentration problem’s and I’ve realised I forget about details so quick maybe because being nervous makes it hard to process information. I’ve just really lately started to feel like I can’t succeed in this world. Does anyone have similar feelings or experiences? I’m starting to feel like giving up. I haven’t been able to keep any job for long or fit in anywhere in my whole life.

Kylie87 Health anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi, this is my first post, I’m sure I am suffering from health anxiety and it’s crippling! it all started about 8 years ago when I had a health scare and I have never gotten over it. I’m at the point now where I’ll do anything to avoid the doctors I’... View more

Hi, this is my first post, I’m sure I am suffering from health anxiety and it’s crippling! it all started about 8 years ago when I had a health scare and I have never gotten over it. I’m at the point now where I’ll do anything to avoid the doctors I’m absolutely terrified that they will find something wrong with me…any kind of tests also triggers anxiety and it’s all I can think about. If I build up enough courage to book a doctors appointment 9 time out of 10 I will cancel it…it’s awful I really don’t know how to get past it

confirmed08 feeling stressed and frustrated due to built up emotion
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, it's been a while since I've posted on here but I'm unfortunately back. I've always had issues expressing my emotions to others to try and get support, I hate burdening family and friends, even those I'm incredibly close to, as they have... View more

Hi everyone, it's been a while since I've posted on here but I'm unfortunately back. I've always had issues expressing my emotions to others to try and get support, I hate burdening family and friends, even those I'm incredibly close to, as they have other stresses and worries in their lives, let alone taking in mine. Since the mutual decision to stop seeing my therapist, I've not expressed any of my stresses and anxiety with anyone, and am making sure I do not cry to show too many negative emotions both around people and even alone so to 'train' myself I suppose to not express these. But this is causing my temper to be incredibly shortened and the smallest things are becoming incredibly frustrating. I know bottling these emotions up is incredibly detrimental, and I'm also encouraging friends not to, but I just can't bare sadden my family and after a bad experience with my ex partner betraying my trust, I don't want to reveal these things to my friends.I don't want to burden them and I don't want to show weakness, but it's really hurting me.

suffocating_in_silence Extreme Social Anxiety
  • replies: 1

I've been feeling really stressed and anxious for the last few months or maybe even year, because of one thing which is just talking. Being in high school makes it a very social environment, but everytime I try to talk my voice gets stuck up, I start... View more

I've been feeling really stressed and anxious for the last few months or maybe even year, because of one thing which is just talking. Being in high school makes it a very social environment, but everytime I try to talk my voice gets stuck up, I start being awkward and people get uncomfortable being around me. I have a lot to say, and want to say it but I just can't. I just want to have a happy high school life with friends I can joke around with, and have basic social skills so I can talk to anyone without being scared or anxious. I don't want to feel afraid of being myself at school, and talk normally when someone approaches me. I want to stop overthinking all the time about every small embaressing thing I do, or every awkward conversation I have. Thank you for taking your time to read this, and I hope whoever you are and where ever you are, you're doing well.

Dazza73 Post relationship blues
  • replies: 8

Hi. I’m 49 and I met a woman online who was the same age.She friended me on Facebook and we started talking every day. She lives a 2 hour drive from me. 5 weeks later, we met in person and we hit it off. We even slept together that weekend. We contin... View more

Hi. I’m 49 and I met a woman online who was the same age.She friended me on Facebook and we started talking every day. She lives a 2 hour drive from me. 5 weeks later, we met in person and we hit it off. We even slept together that weekend. We continued talking (mostly online) and we met every weekend for 4 weeks. I had a planned trip interstate, so went on that. Upon my return, she either pulled away or was referring to herself as her girlfriend. She kept referring to herself as my girlfriend. However when I asked her, she immediately says things are not working between us. I feel like I’ve been led on a bit. She ended the relationship and now I’m finding it difficult not talking to her. 4 weeks after we broke up, I’m starting to get angry as all I think about is being led on. I’m constantly thinking of her. I’m struggling to let her go. When I see a picture of her on various social media, my heart beats faster and I feel anxious and sad. I do have thoughts of ending myself, but I know this is counterproductive. As of yesterday, I have unfollowed her on all social media formats. So I won’t see any photos online. I’m getting sick and tired of her consuming my thoughts. This is driving me insane. Trouble is, I live in a rural town and I have no one to turn to for a chat or support. Why does she consume my every day thoughts?I’ve joined 3 different dating sites and have sent 30 different women a message. Only 1 has briefly chatted. The rest do not want to talk to me. Right now, I’m sad, lonely, rejected while missing a certain woman. Can anyone help me or give me some direction? thanks…

loopsy generalised anxiety disorder in 10 year old
  • replies: 4

hi, I'm looking for any advice for GAD in children. My son was misdiagnosed with ADHD and given lots of different types over a 3 month period as nothing was improving his poor behaviour at school. the medication turbo charged his undiagnosed anxiety.... View more

hi, I'm looking for any advice for GAD in children. My son was misdiagnosed with ADHD and given lots of different types over a 3 month period as nothing was improving his poor behaviour at school. the medication turbo charged his undiagnosed anxiety. he had a semi psychosis at Christmas, tried to kill me and hit me multiple times, 2 x trips to Children's hospital but no help provided. 4 months later and he is seeing a psychiatrist and is off ADHD medication but he's aggressive, verbally abusive and fearful, and can't go to school as his anxiety is so bad. He's on computer games all day long as we have to work, hard to insist on working from home full time, but one of us can be here, however he is really hard work and its slowly killing our family life. I feel so trapped and helpless. all his friends are very distant now too which is disappointing. Does it get better? what can help? thanks for reading.

Macca96 Still nervous
  • replies: 3

Hi all. Why am I always nervous about my job? It’s like I’m anxious but I’m not. Like I’m not worried about making errors I just think about the processes I need to do. Even on my days off I’m nervous about it.I wake up hours before I need to and can... View more

Hi all. Why am I always nervous about my job? It’s like I’m anxious but I’m not. Like I’m not worried about making errors I just think about the processes I need to do. Even on my days off I’m nervous about it.I wake up hours before I need to and can’t get back to sleep. That’s when the nervous feelings kick in and lasts most of the day. Normally goes away at night but starts up again the next morning.Only symptom is this nervous feeling in my tummy. And when it’s really bad I have no appetite. It’s very uncomfortable.Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.

Whatsitallabout Anxious about teaching jobs and sleep problem
  • replies: 3

I’ve been a primary teacher for about 10 years (in different locations) and I’ve got to the point now where I feel too anxious to take another teaching job. I was always anxious about teaching and all the observations and judgement from everyone- par... View more

I’ve been a primary teacher for about 10 years (in different locations) and I’ve got to the point now where I feel too anxious to take another teaching job. I was always anxious about teaching and all the observations and judgement from everyone- parents, other teachers, principals etc. I used to work long hours and tried my best to prepare good activities etc and then over time I started to get anxiety and sleep problems. Then I keep going to work without sleeping Which eventually makes you ill and then you need time off quite regularly. In the end I would resign for the end of the school year and sometimes I’d only last a term in some schools. Now I’m at the stage where I know my anxiety and sleep problem is so bad that I can’t take another teaching job. I know it’s a big responsibility looking after kids and I don’t want to let them down in their education. Now I’ve been without work for almost a year. I feel guilty, anxious and stressed about not working. I’ve even applied for teaching jobs and been offered them but then I’ve turned them down because of anxiety. I feel such a failure and I beat myself up because I can’t get up in the morning - because I can’t sleep often till about 4am. My family discuss with each other how unsuccessful I am. My husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year (he’s not been working since the start of the VIC lockdown) and that’s only added to the anxiety. I must work and I can’t afford counselling. I really don’t know what to do.

1415 Feeling scared all the time/impending sense of doom
  • replies: 3

I've been feeling absolutely terrified and an ongoing sense of impending doom for the past month and a half and I don't know how to stop it. Every time I see any slightly negative news story or anything on social media or anything about space, it jus... View more

I've been feeling absolutely terrified and an ongoing sense of impending doom for the past month and a half and I don't know how to stop it. Every time I see any slightly negative news story or anything on social media or anything about space, it just triggers me again and I end up so scared again. Even though I know its not, I'm constantly convinced that something terrible is going to happen and the world will end. I'm so tired of it and I constantly feel so sick from fear. I can't focus on any uni work or classes and my favourite band is touring later in the year and I'm excited but also convinced that the world will end before I can go. I'm terrified of going on my phone or listening/watching the news because everything terrifies me now and gives like a cold fear. I've tried all the different ways to stop it like slow breathing but nothing helps and I just keep getting triggered. Is there anyway to stop this?

Caite Weaning off Medication
  • replies: 4

Hey guys, I have now been off my medication for about a month I was on this medication, my dr won’t listen to me about how I feel and I’ve recently connected with a herbalist who is saying what I’ve been saying from the start, I have serotonin syndro... View more

Hey guys, I have now been off my medication for about a month I was on this medication, my dr won’t listen to me about how I feel and I’ve recently connected with a herbalist who is saying what I’ve been saying from the start, I have serotonin syndrome and too much histamine in my body, just this afternoon a panic attack has come on and is making me feel a lot worse, I have vitamins coming from the herbalist to help reduce the chemical imbalance, I’m just struggling with just reminding myself I’ll be okay cause of the almost blacking out feeling and increased heart rate, my dr is trying to put me on other medication but I just don’t want to be medicated, has anyone else experienced this?